CHAPTER 10 JERUSALEM

Passover
Suffering
Arrest
Death
Return to Life
The Commission
Return to Heaven
The Holy Spirit

JERUSALEM

Passover
Jesus speaks of his death and return to life
Towards Jerusalem
Jesus prepares the twelve disciples
The situation in Jerusalem
Jesus is anointed at Bethany
On the way to Jerusalem
A donkey’s colt for the King
A prophecy fulfilled
Jesus enters Jerusalem
Jesus returns the next day
Jesus in the Temple
My Temple is a place of prayer
Jesus taught and healed in the Temple
The leaders wish to get rid of Jesus
Jesus returns to Bethany
The future of the Temple
Passover preparation
Plans to capture Jesus
Judas Iscariot to betray Jesus
Eating the Passover
Jesus washes the disciples’ feet
Jesus tells of betrayal
Lord, who is it?
The Lord’s Supper

Jesus speaks of his death and return to life
Matthew 17:22-23
One day while they were still in Galilee, Jesus told them, “ I am going to be betrayed into the power of those who will kill me, and on the third day afterwards I will be brought back to life again.” And the disciples’ hearts were filled with sorrow and dread.
Mark 9:30-32
Leaving that region they traveled through Galilee, where Jesus tried to avoid all publicity in order to spend more time with his disciples, teaching them. He would say to them, “I, the Son of Mankind, am going to be betrayed and killed and three days later I will return to life again.”
But they didn’t understand and were afraid to ask him what he meant.
Luke 9:43-45
Meanwhile, as they were exclaiming over all the wonderful things he was doing, Jesus said to his disciples, “listen to me and remember what I say. I, the Son of Mankind, am going to be betrayed.” But the disciples didn’t know what he meant, for their minds had been sealed and they were afraid to ask him.

Towards Jerusalem
John 7:1
After this Jesus went to Galilee, going from village to village, for he wanted to stay out of Judea where the Jewish leaders were plotting his death.
Matthew 19:1
After Jesus had finished his address, he left Galilee and circled back to Judea from across the river Jordan.
Mark 10:1
Then Jesus left Capernaum and went southward to the Judean borders and into the area east of the river Jordan.
Luke 9:51
As the time drew near for his return to heaven, he moved steadily onward towards Jerusalem with an iron will.
John 7:2-3
But soon it was time for the Tabernacle Ceremonies, one of the annual Jewish holidays, and Jesus’ brothers urged him to go to Judea for the celebration.
“Go where more people can see your miracles,” they scoffed.
John 7:4-9
“You can’t be famous when you hide like this. If you’re so great, prove it to the world!” For even his brothers didn’t believe in him.
Jesus replied, “It is not the right time for me to go now. But you can go any time and it will make no difference, for the world can’t hate you; but it does hate me, because I accuse it of sin and evil. (Sin – thoughts, speech and actions against God’s Laws and Evil – very great wickedness, depravity and corruption) You go on, and I’ll come later when it is the right time.” So he remained in Galilee.
John 7:10
But after his brothers had left for the celebration, then Jesus went too, though secretly, staying out of the public eye.
Luke 13:31-35
A few minutes later some Pharisees said to him, “Get out of here if you want to live, for King Herod is after you!”
Jesus replied, “Go tell that fox I will keep on casting out demons and doing miracles of healing today and tomorrow; and the third day I will reach my destination. Yes, today, tomorrow, and the next day! For it wouldn’t do for a prophet of God to be killed except in Jerusalem!
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem! The city that murders the prophets. The city that stones those sent to help her. How often I have wanted to gather your children together even as a hen protects her broods under her wings, but you wouldn’t let me. And now – now your house is left desolate. And you will never again see me until you say, ‘Welcome to him who comes in the name of the Lord.’”
Matthew 20:17
As Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem…
Mark 10:32
Now they were on the way to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking along ahead; and as the disciples were following they were filled with terror and dread.

Jesus prepares the twelve disciples
Matthew 20: 17-18
Jesus took the twelve disciples aside, and talked to them about what would happen to him when they arrived (in Jerusalem).
Mark 10:32
Taking them aside, Jesus once more began describing all that was going to happen to him when they arrived at Jerusalem.
Luke 18:31
Gathering the Twelve around him he told them, “As you know, we are going to Jerusalem. And when we get there, all the predictions of the ancient prophets concerning me will come true.”
Matthew 20:18
“I will be betrayed to the chief priests and other Jewish leaders, and they will condemn me to die.”
Mark 10:33
“When we get there,” Jesus told them, “I, the Son of Mankind, will be arrested and taken before the chief priests and the Jewish leaders, who will sentence me to die…”
Matthew 20:19
“And they will hand me over to the Roman government, and I will be mocked and crucified, and the third day I will rise to life again.”
Mark 10:33-34
“…and hand me over to the Romans to be killed. They will mock me and spit on me and flog me with their whips and kill me; but after three days I will come back to life again.”
Luke 18:32-33
“I will be handed over to the Gentiles to be mocked and treated shamefully and spat upon, and lashed and killed. And the third day I will rise again.”
Luke 18:34
But they didn’t understand a thing Jesus said. He seemed to be talking in riddles (puzzles).

The situation in Jerusalem
John 11:55-57
The Passover, a Jewish holy day, was near, and many country people arrived in Jerusalem several days early so that they could go through the cleansing ceremony before the Passover began. They wanted to see Jesus, and as they gossiped in the Temple, they asked each other, “What do you think? Will he come for the Passover?” Meanwhile the chief priests and Pharisees had publicly announced that anyone seeing Jesus must report him immediately so that they could arrest him.

Jesus is anointed at Bethany
Matthew 26:6-13
Jesus now went to Bethany, to the home of Simon the leper. While he was eating, a woman came in with a bottle of very expensive perfume, and poured it over his head.
The disciples were indignant. “What a waste of good money,” they said. “Why, she could have sold for a fortune and given it to the poor.”
Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said, “Why are you criticizing her? For she has done a good thing to me. You will always have the poor among you, but you won’t always have me. She has poured this perfume on me to prepare my body for burial. And she will always be remembered for this deed. The story of what she has done will be told throughout the whole world, wherever the Good News is preached.”
Mark 14:3-9
Meanwhile Jesus was in Bethany, at the home of Simon the leper; during supper a woman came in with a beautiful flask of expensive perfume. Then, breaking the seal, she poured it over his head.
Some of those at the table were indignant among themselves about this “waste,” as they called it.
“Why, she could have sold that perfume for a fortune and given the money to the poor!” they snarled.
But Jesus said, “Let her alone; why criticize her for doing a good thing? You always have the poor among you, and they badly need your help, and you can aid them whenever you want to; but I won’t be here much longer.
“She has done what she could, and has anointed my body beforehand for burial. And I tell you this in solemn truth, that wherever the Good News is preached, throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and praised.”
John 12:1-11
Six days before the Passover ceremonies began, Jesus arrived in Bethany where Lazarus was – the man he had brought back to life. A banquet was prepared in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, and Lazarus sat at the table with him. Then Mary took a jar of costly perfume made from essence of nard, and anointed Jesus’ feet with it and wiped them with her hair. And the house was filled with fragrance.
But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples – the one who would betray him – said, “That perfume was worth a fortune. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.” Not that he cared for the poor, but he was in charge of the disciples’ funds and often dipped into them for his own use.
Jesus replied, “Let her alone. She did it in preparation for my burial. You can always help the poor, but I won’t be with you very long.”
When the ordinary people of Jerusalem heard of Jesus’ arrival, they flocked to see him and also to see Lazarus – the man who had come back to life again. Then the chief priests decided to kill Lazarus too, for it was because of him that many of the Jewish leaders had deserted and believed in Jesus as their Messiah.

On the way to Jerusalem
John 12:12-13
The news that Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem swept through the city, and a huge crowd of Passover visitors took palm branches and went down the road to meet him, shouting, “The Savior! God bless the King of Israel! Hail to God’s Ambassador!”

A donkey’s colt for the King
Matthew 21:1-6
As Jesus and the disciples approached Jerusalem, and were near the town of Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of them into the village ahead.
“Just as you enter,” he said, “you will see a donkey tied there, with its colt beside it. Untie them and bring them here. If anyone asks you what you are doing, just say, ‘The Master needs them’, and there will be no trouble.”
This was done to fulfill the ancient prophecy, “Tell Jerusalem her King is coming to her, riding humbly on a donkey’s colt!”
The two disciples did as Jesus said…
Mark 11:1-3
As they neared Bethphage and Bethany on the outskirts of Jerusalem and came to the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples on ahead.
“Go into that village over there,” he told them, “and just as you enter you will see a colt tied up that has never been ridden. Untie him and bring him here. And if anyone asks you what you are doing, just say, ‘Our Master needs him and will return him soon.’

Luke 19:29-31
As they came to the towns of Bethphage and Bethany, on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples ahead, with instructions to go to the next village, and as they entered they were to look for a donkey tied beside the road. It would be a colt, not yet broken in for riding.
“Untie him,” Jesus said, “and bring him here. And if anyone asks you what you are doing, just say, “The Lord needs him.’”
Mark 11:4-6
Off went the two men and found the colt standing in the street, tied outside a house. As they were untying it, some who were standing there demanded, “What are you doing, untying that colt?”
They said what Jesus had told them to, and then the men agreed.
Luke 19:22-34
They found the colt as Jesus said, and sure enough, as they were untying it, the owners demanded an explanation.
“What are you doing?” they asked. “Why are you untying our colt?”
And the disciples simply replied, “The Lord needs him!”
Matthew 21:7
…and brought the animals to him and threw their garments over the colt for him to ride on.
Mark 11:7
So the colt was brought to Jesus and the disciples threw their cloaks across its back for him to ride on.
Luke 19:35
So they brought the colt to Jesus and threw some of their clothing across its back for Jesus to sit on.

A prophecy fulfilled
John 12:14-16
Jesus rode along on a young donkey, fulfilling the prophecy that said: “Don’t be afraid of your King, people of Israel, for he will come to you meekly (and lowly) sitting on a donkey’s colt!”
(Jesus’ disciples didn’t realize at the time that this was a fulfillment of prophecy; but after Jesus returned to his glory in heaven, then they noticed how many prophecies of Scripture had come true before their eyes.)
Matthew 21:8
And some in the crowd threw down their coats along the road ahead of him, and others cut branches from trees and spread them out before him.
Mark 11:8
Then many in the crowd spread out their coats along the road before him, while others threw down leafy branches from the fields.
Luke 19:36-37
Then the crowds spread out their robes along the road ahead of him.
John 12:17-18
And those in the crowd who had seen Jesus call Lazarus back to life told everyone else about it. That was the main reason why so many went out to meet him – because they had heard about this mighty miracle.
Matthew 21:9
Then the crowds surged on ahead and pressed along behind, shouting, “God bless King David’s Son!”…. “Praise him!”…. “God’s Man is here!”…. “Bless him, Lord!”
Mark 11:9-10
He was in the centre of the procession with crowds ahead and behind, and all of them shouting, “Long live the King!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”…. “Blessed is the Kingdom he is bringing, the kingdom of our father David!”….. “God save the King!”
Luke 19:37-40
As they reached the place where the road started down from the Mount of Olives, the whole procession began to shout and sing as they walked along, praising God for all the wonderful miracles Jesus had done.
“God has given us a King!” they exulted (they rejoiced). “Long live the King! Let all heaven rejoice! Glory to God in the highest heavens!”
But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, “Sir, rebuke (reprimand sharply) your followers for saying things like that!”
Jesus replied, “If they keep quiet, the stones along the road will burst into cheers!”
John 12:19
Then the Pharisees said to each other, “We’ve lost. Look – the whole world had gone after him!”
Luke 19:41-44
As they came closer to Jerusalem and Jesus saw the city ahead, tears came into his eyes. “Eternal peace was within your reach and you refused it,” he wept, “and now it is too late. Your enemies will pile up earth against your walls and encircle you and close in on you, and crush you to the ground, and your children within you. Your enemies will not leave one stone upon another – for you have rejected the opportunity God offered you.”

Jesus enters Jerusalem
Mark 11:11
And so Jesus entered Jerusalem.
Matthew 21:10-11
The entire city of Jerusalem was stirred (aroused) as Jesus entered. “Who is this?” they asked. And the crowds replied, “It’s Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth up in Galilee.”
Mark 11:11
Jesus went into the Temple. He looked around carefully at everything and then left – for now it was late in the afternoon – and went out to Bethany with the twelve disciples.

Jesus returns the next day
Matthew 21:18-19
In the morning as Jesus was returning to Jerusalem, he was hungry. Noticing a fig tree beside the road, he went over to see if there were any figs, but there were only leaves. Then he said to it, “Never bear fruit again!” And soon the fig tree withered up.
Mark 11:12-14
The next morning as they left Bethany, he felt hungry. A little way off he noticed a fig tree in full leaf, so he went over to see if he could find any figs on it. But no, there were only leaves, for it was too early in the season for fruit.
Then Jesus said to the tree, “You shall never bear fruit again!” And the disciples heard him say it.

Jesus in the Temple
Matthew 21:12
Jesus went into the Temple, drove out the merchants, and knocked over the money-changers’ tables and the stalls of those selling doves.
Mark 11:15-16
When they arrived back in Jerusalem he went to the Temple and began to drive out the merchants and their customers, and knocked over the tables of the moneychangers and the stalls of those selling doves, and stopped everyone from bringing in loads of merchandise.
Luke 19:45
Then Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out the merchants from their stalls.

My Temple is a place of prayer
Matthew 21:13
“The Scriptures say my Temple is a place of prayer,” he declared, “But you have turned it into a den of thieves.”
Mark 11:17
Jesus told them, “It is written in the Scriptures, ‘My Temple is to be a place of prayer for all nations,’ but you have turned it into a den of robbers.”
Luke 19:46
Jesus said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple is a place of prayer; but you have turned it into a den of thieves’”

Jesus taught and healed in the Temple
Luke 19:47
After that he taught daily in the Temple.
Matthew 21:14-16
And now the blind and crippled came to him and he healed them there in the Temple. But when the chief priests and other Jewish leaders saw these wonderful miracles, and heard even the little children in the Temple shouting, “God bless the Son of David,” they were disturbed and indignant and asked him, “Do you hear what these children are saying?”
“Yes,” Jesus replied. “Didn’t you ever read the Scriptures? For they say, ‘Even little babies shall praise him!”

The leaders wish to get rid of Jesus
Mark11:18
When the chief priests and other Jewish leaders heard what Jesus had done they began planning how best to get rid of him. Their problem was their fear of riots because the people were so enthusiastic about Jesus’ teaching.
Luke 19:47
The chief priests and other religious leaders and the business community were trying to find some way to get rid of Jesus. But they could think of nothing, for he was a hero to the people – they hung on every word he said.

Jesus returns to Bethany
Matthew 21:17
Then Jesus returned to Bethany, where he stayed overnight.
Mark 11:19
That evening as usual Jesus and the disciples left the city.
Matthew 23:37-39
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets, and stones all those God sends to her! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me. And now your house is left to you, desolate. For I tell you this, you will never see me again until you are ready to welcome the one sent to you from God.”

The future of the Temple
Matthew 24:1
As Jesus was leaving the Temple grounds, his disciples came along and wanted to take him on a tour of the various Temple buildings.
Mark 13:1
As Jesus was leaving the Temple that day, one of his disciples said, “Teacher, what beautiful buildings these are! Look at the decorated stonework on the walls.”
Luke 21:5
Some of Jesus’ disciples began talking about the beautiful stonework of the Temple and the memorial decorations on the walls.
Matthew 24:2
But Jesus told them, “All these buildings will be knocked down, with not one stone left on top of another!”
Mark 13:2
Jesus said, “Yes, look! For not one stone will be left upon another, except as ruins.”
Luke 21:6
But Jesus said, “The time is coming when all these things you are admiring will be knocked down, and not one stone will be left on top of another. All will become one vast heap of rubble.”
Matthew 24:3
“When will this happen?” the disciples asked him later, as he sat on the slopes of the Mount of Olives. “What events will signal your return, and the end of the world?”
Mark 13:3-4
And as Jesus sat on the slopes of the Mount of Olives, across the valley from Jerusalem, Peter, James, John, and Andrew were alone with him and asked him, “Just when is all this going to happen to the Temple? Will there be some advance warning?”
Luke 21:7
“Master!” they exclaimed. “When? And will there be any advance warning?”
Luke 21:37-38
Every day Jesus went to the Temple to teach, and the crowds began gathering early in the morning to hear him. And each evening he returned to spend the night on the Mount of Olives.

Passover preparation
Mark 14:1
The Passover observance began two days later – an annual Jewish holiday when no bread made with yeast was eaten.
Luke 22:1
And now the Passover celebration was drawing near – the Jewish festival when only bread made without yeast was used.
Matthew 26:1-2
When Jesus had finished this talk with his disciples, he told them.
“As you know, the Passover celebration begins in two days, and I shall be betrayed and crucified.”
John 13:1
Jesus knew on the evening of Passover Day that it would be his last night on earth before returning to his Father.
John 13:1-3
And how Jesus loved his disciples!

Wednesday p.m.

Matthew 26:1-2
When Jesus had finished this talk with his disciples, he told them, “As you know, the Passover celebration begins in two days, and I shall be betrayed and crucified.”

Plans to capture Jesus
Matthew 26:3-5
At that very moment the chief priests and other Jewish officials were meeting at the residence of Caiaphas the High Priest, to discuss ways of capturing Jesus quietly, and killing him. “But not during the Passover celebration,” they agreed, “for there would be a riot.”
Mark 14:1-2
The Passover observance began two days later – an annual Jewish holiday when no bread made with yeast was eaten. The chief priests and other Jewish leaders were still looking for an opportunity to arrest Jesus secretly and put him to death.
“But we can’t do it during the Passover,” they said, “or there will be a riot.”
Luke 22:1-2
And now the Passover celebration was drawing near – the Jewish festival when only bread made without yeast was used. The chief priests and other religious leaders were actively plotting Jesus’ murder, trying to find a way to kill him without starting a riot – a possibility they greatly feared.

Wednesday night

Judas Iscariot to betray Jesus
Matthew 26:14-16
Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve apostles, went to the chief priests, and asked, “How much will you pay me to get Jesus into your hands?” And they gave him thirty silver coins. From that time on, Judas watched for an opportunity to betray Jesus to them.
Mark 14:10-11
Then Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples, went to the chief priests to arrange to betray Jesus to them.
When the chief priests heard why he had come, they were excited and happy and promised him a reward. So he began looking for the right time and place to betray Jesus.
Luke 22:3-6
Then Satan entered into Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve disciples, and he went over to the chief priests and captains of the Temple guards to discuss the best ways to betray Jesus to them. They were, of course, delighted to know that he was ready to help them and promised him a reward. So he began to look for an opportunity for them to arrest Jesus quietly when the crowds weren’t around.

Eating the Passover
Matthew 26:17-19
On the first day of the Passover ceremonies, when bread made with yeast was purged (cleansed) from every Jewish home, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where shall we plan to eat the Passover?”
Jesus replied, “Go into the city and see Mr. So-and-so, and tell him, ‘Our Master says, my time has come, and I will eat the Passover meal with my disciples at your house.’” So the disciples did as he told them, and prepared the supper there.
Mark 14:12-16
On the first day of the Passover, the day the lambs were sacrificed, Jesus’ disciples asked him where he wanted to go to eat the traditional Passover supper. He sent two of them into Jerusalem to make the arrangements.
“As you are walking along,” he told them, “you will see a man coming towards you carrying a pot of water. Follow him. At the house he enters, tell the man in charge, ‘Our Master sent us to see the room you have ready for us, where we will eat the Passover supper this evening,’ He will take you upstairs to a large room all laid out. Prepare our supper there.” So the two disciples went on ahead into the city and found everything as Jesus had said, and prepared the Passover.
Luke 22:7-13
Now the day of the Passover celebration arrived, when the Passover lamb was killed and eaten with unleavened bread (that is bread made without yeast or other raising agent). Jesus sent Peter and John ahead to find a place to prepare their Passover meal.
“Where do your want us to go?” they asked.
And Jesus replied, “As soon as you enter Jerusalem, you will see a man walking along carrying a pitcher (a large jug) of water. Follow him into the house he enters, and say to the man who lives there, ‘Our Teacher asks you to show us the guest room where he can eat the Passover meal with his disciples.’ He will take you upstairs to a large room all ready for us. That is the place. Go ahead and prepare the meal there.”
They went off to the city and found everything just as Jesus had said, and prepared the Passover supper.
Matthew 26:20-21
That evening as he sat eating with the Twelve…
Mark 14:17
In the evening Jesus arrived with the other disciples…
Luke 22:14
Then Jesus and the others arrived, and at the proper time all sat down together at the table.
Luke 22:15-18
And Jesus said, “I have looked forward to this hour with deep longing, anxious to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins.
For I tell you now that I won’t eat it again until what it represents has occurred in the Kingdom of God.”
Then he took a glass of wine, and when he had given thanks for it, he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. For I will not drink wine again until the Kingdom of God has come,”

Jesus washes the disciples’ feet
John 13:1-20
Jesus knew on the evening of Passover Day that it would be his last night on earth before returning to his Father. During supper the Devil had already suggested to Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, that this was the night to carry out his plan to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had given him everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. And how he loved his disciples! So he got up from the supper table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his loins, poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel he had around him.
When he came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Master, you shouldn’t be washing our feet like this.”
Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now why I am doing it; some day you will.”
“No,” Peter protested, “You shall never wash my feet!”
“But if I don’t, you can’t be my partner,” Jesus replied.
Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well – not just my feet!”
Jesus replied, “One who has bathed all over needs only to have his feet washed to be entirely clean. Now you are clean – but that isn’t true of everyone here.” For Jesus knew who would betray him. That is what he meant when he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
After washing their feet he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? You call me ‘Master’ and ‘Lord,’ and you do well to say it, for it is true. And since I, the Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow: do as I have done to you. How true it is that a servant is not greater than his master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends him. You know these things – now do them. That is the path of blessing.”
“I am not saying these things to all of you; I know so well each one of you I chose. The scripture declares, ‘One who eats supper with me will betray me,’ and this will soon come true. I tell you this now so that when it happens, you will believe on me.”
“Truly, anyone welcoming the person, whom I will send, is welcoming me. And to welcome me is to welcome the Father who sent me.”

Jesus tells of betrayal
Matthew 26:21
Jesus said, “One of you will betray me.”
Mark 14:18
And as they were sitting around the table eating, Jesus said, “I solemnly declare that one of you will betray me, one of you who is here eating with me.”
Luke 22:21
Jesus said, “But here at this table, sitting among us as a friend, is the man who will betray me.”
John 13:21
Now Jesus was in great anguish of spirit and exclaimed, “Yes, it is true – one of you will betray me.”
Luke 22:22
Jesus said, “I must die. It is part of God’s plan. But, oh, the horror awaiting that man who betrays me.”
John 13:22
The disciples looked at each other wondering whom he could mean.
Luke 22:23
Then the disciples wondered among themselves which of them would ever do such a thing.
Matthew 26:22-23
Sorrow chilled their hearts, and each one asked, “Am I the one?”
Jesus replied, “It is the one I served first.”
Mark 14:19-20
A great sadness swept over them, and, one by one, they asked him, “Am I the one?”
Jesus replied, “It is one of you twelve eating with me now.”
Matthew 26:24
Jesus said, “For I must die just as was prophesied, but woe (distress, sorrow and suffering) to the man by whom I am betrayed. Far better for that one if he had never been born.”
Mark 14:21
Jesus said, “I must die, as the prophets declared long ago; but, oh, the misery (the anguish) ahead for the man by whom I am betrayed. Oh, that he had never been born!”

Lord, who is it?
John 13:23-27
Since I (John) was sitting next to Jesus at the table, being his closest friend, Simon Peter motioned to me to ask him who it was who would do this terrible deed.
So I turned and asked Jesus, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus told me, “It is the one I honor by giving the bread dipped in the sauce.” And when Jesus had dipped it, he gave it to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot.
As soon as Judas had eaten it, Satan entered into him.
Matthew 26:25
Judas, too, had asked Jesus, “Rabbi, am I the one?” And Jesus had told him, “Yes.”
John 13:27-30
Then Jesus told Judas Iscariot, “Hurry – do it now.”
None of the others at the table knew what Jesus meant.
Some thought that since Judas was their treasurer, Jesus was telling him to go and pay for the food or to give some money to the poor. Judas left at once, going out into the night.
John 13:31-32
As soon as Judas left the room, Jesus said, “My time has come; the glory of God will soon surround me – and God shall receive great praise because of all that happens to me. And God shall give me his own glory, and this so very soon.”

The Lord’s Supper
Matthew 26:26
As they were eating, Jesus took a small loaf of bread and blessed it and broke it apart and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take it and eat it, for this is my body.”
Mark 14:22
As they were eating, Jesus took a small loaf of bread and asked God’s blessing on it and broke it in pieces and gave it to them and said, “Eat it – this is my body.”
Luke 22:19
Then Jesus took a loaf of bread; and when he had thanked God for it, he broke it apart and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, given for you. Eat it in remembrance of me.”
Matthew 26:27-28
And Jesus took a cup of wine and gave thanks for it and gave it to them and said, “Each one drink from it, for this is my blood, sealing (confirming and guaranteeing) the New Covenant. It is poured out to forgive the sins of multitudes.” (It is poured out to pardon and excuse, and remits completely the sins; the thoughts, speech and actions against the laws of God of an enormous number of peoples)
Mark 14:23-24
Then Jesus took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it and gave it to them; and they all drank from it. And Jesus said to them, “This is my blood, poured out for many, sealing the new agreement between God and man.”
Luke 22:20
After supper he gave them another glass of wine, saying, “This wine is the token of God’s new agreement to save you – an agreement sealed with the blood I shall pour out as a sacrifice for you.”
Matthew 26:29
Jesus said, “Mark my words – I will not drink this wine again until the day I drink it new with you in my Father’s Kingdom.”
Mark 14:25
Jesus said, “I solemnly declare that I shall never again taste wine until the day I drink a far better kind in the Kingdom of God.”

JERUSALEM

Suffering
A New Commandment
Jesus will be deserted
Peter to deny Jesus three times
Bag, money and sword
Sorrow then rejoicing
Out to the Mount of Olives
The Garden of Gethsemane

A new Commandment
John 13:33-35
Jesus said, “Dear, dear, children, how brief are these moments before I must go away and leave you! Then, though you search for me, you cannot come to me – just as I told the Jewish leaders.”
“And so I am giving a new commandment to you now – love each other just as much as I love you. Your strong love for each other will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

Jesus will be deserted
John 13:36
Simon Peter said, “Master, where are you going?”
And Jesus replied, “You can’t go with me now; but you will follow me later.”
Matthew 26:31-33
Then Jesus said to them, “To-night you will all desert me. For it is written in the Scriptures that God will smite the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered. But after I have been brought back to life again I will go to Galilee, and meet you there.”
Peter declared, “If everyone deserts you, I won’t.”
Mark 14:27-29
“All of you will desert me,” Jesus told them, “for God has declared through the prophets, ‘I will kill the Shepherd, and the sheep will scatter.’ But after I am raised to life again, I will go to Galilee and meet you there.”
Peter said to him, “I will never desert you no matter what the others do!”
Luke 22:31-33
Jesus said, “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to have you, to sift you like wheat, but I have pleaded in prayer for you that your faith should not completely fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen and build up the faith of your brothers.”
Simon said, “Lord, I am ready to go to prison with you, and even to die with you.”
John 13:37
“But why can’t I come now?” Simon asked, “for I am ready to die for you.”

Peter to deny Jesus three times
Matthew 26:34
Jesus told him, “The truth is that this very night, before the cock crows at dawn, you will deny me three times!”
Mark 14:30
“Peter,” Jesus said, “before the cock crows a second time tomorrow morning you will deny me three times.”
Luke 22:34
But Jesus said, “Peter, let me tell you something. Between now and tomorrow morning when the rooster crows, you will deny me three times, declaring that you don’t even know me.”
John 13:38
Jesus answered, “Die for me? No – three times before the cock crows tomorrow morning you will deny that you even know me!”
Matthew 26:35
“I would die first!” Peter insisted. And all the other disciples said the same thing.
Mark 14:31
“No!” Peter exploded. “Not even if I have to die with you! I’ll never deny you!” And all the others vowed the same.

Bag, money and sword
Luke 22:35-38
Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you out to preach the Good News and you were without money, bag or extra clothing, how did you get along?”
“All right,” they replied.
“But now,” Jesus said, “take a bag if you have one, and your money. And if you don’t have a sword, sell your clothes and buy one. For the time has come for this prophecy about me to come true: ‘He will be condemned as a criminal!’ Yes, everything written about me by the prophets will come true.”
“Master,” they replied, “we have two swords among us.”
“Enough!” Jesus said.

Sorrow then rejoicing
John 16:16-22
Jesus said, “In just a little while I will be gone, and you will see me no more; but just a little while after that, and you will see me again!”
“Whatever is he saying?” some of his disciples asked. “What is this about ‘going to the Father’? We don’t know what he means.”
Jesus realized they wanted to ask him so he said, “Are you asking yourselves what I mean? The world will greatly rejoice over what is going to happen to me, and you will weep. But your weeping shall suddenly be turned to wonderful joy [when you see me again]. It will be the same joy as that of a woman in labor when her child is born – her anguish gives place to rapturous joy and the pain is forgotten. You have sorrow now, but I will see you again and then you will rejoice; and no one can rob you of that joy.”

Out to the Mount of Olives
Matthew 26:30
And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Mark 14:26
Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.
Luke 22:39
Then, accompanied by the disciples, Jesus left the upstairs room and went as usual to the Mount of Olives.

The Garden of Gethsemane
John 18:1
After saying these things Jesus crossed the Kidron ravine with his disciples and entered a grove of olive trees.
Matthew 26:36
Then Jesus brought them to a garden grove, Gethsemane, and told them to sit down and wait while he went on ahead to pray.
Mark 14:32
And now they came to an olive grove called the Garden of Gethsemane, and Jesus instructed his disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray.”
Luke 22:40
There Jesus told them, “Pray God that you will not be overcome by temptation (any attraction to think, speak or do any evil and wrongdoing).”
Matthew 26:37-38
Jesus took Peter with him and Zebedee’s two sons James and John, and began to be filled with anguish and despair.
Then Jesus told them, “My soul is crushed with horror and sadness to the point of death…stay here…stay awake with me.”
Mark 14:33
Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and began to be filled with horror and deepest distress. And he said to them, “My soul is crushed by sorrow to the point of death; stay here and watch with me.”
Matthew 26:39
Jesus went forward a little, and fell face downward on the ground, and prayed, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup be taken away from me. But I want your will not mine.”
Mark 14:35-36
Jesus went on a little farther and fell to the ground and prayed that if it were possible the awful hour awaiting him might never come.
“Father, Father,” Jesus said, “everything is possible for you. Take away this cup from me. Yet I want your will, not mine.”
Luke 22:41-46
Jesus walked away, perhaps a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed this prayer: “Father, if you are willing, please take away this cup of horror from me. But I want your will, not mine. Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him, for he was in such agony of spirit that he broke into a sweat of blood, with great drops falling to the ground as he prayed more and more earnestly. At last he stood up again and returned to the disciples – only to find them asleep, exhausted from grief.
“Asleep!” Jesus said, “Get up! Pray God that you will not fall when you are tempted.”
Matthew 26:40-41
Then Jesus returned to the three disciples and found them asleep. “Peter,”
he called, “couldn’t you even stay awake with me one hour? Keep alert and pray. Otherwise temptation will overpower you. For the spirit indeed is willing, but how weak the body is.”
Mark 14:37-38
Then Jesus returned to the three disciples and found them asleep.
“Simon!” he said, “Asleep? Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? Watch with me and pray in case the Tempter overpower you. For though the spirit is willing enough, the body is weak.”
Matthew 26:42
Again Jesus left them and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be removed until I drink it all, your will be done.”
Mark 14:39
And Jesus went away again and prayed, repeating his pleadings.
Matthew 26:43
Jesus returned to them again and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.
Mark 14:40
Again Jesus returned to them and found them sleeping, for they were very tired. And they didn’t know what to say.
Matthew 26:44-46
So Jesus went back to prayer the third time, saying the same things again.
Then Jesus came to the disciples and said, “Sleep on now and take your rest…but no, the time has come! I am betrayed into the hands of evil men. Up, let’s be going. Look – here comes the man who is betraying me!”
Mark 14:41-42
The third time when Jesus returned to them he said, “Sleep on; get your rest. But no, the time for sleep has ended. Look! I am betrayed into the hands of wicked men. Come, get up. We must go. Look, my betrayer is here!”

JERUSALEM

Arrest
The arrest of Jesus
An ear slashed off
Fulfilling the Scriptures
Jesus addresses the leaders
The arrest of Jesus
To the High Priest’s home
Peter follows at a distance
Jesus before the High Priest
Jesus – the Messiah, the Son of God
The sentence of death
Jesus is tortured
Peter denies Jesus
Jesus before the Supreme Court
Judas changes his mind
Jesus is sent to Pilate
Jesus before Pilate
Pilate sends Jesus to King Herod
Herod sends Jesus back to Pilate
Pilate’s verdict
The Governor’s custom
Release Barabbas or Jesus
Pilate’s wife’s dream
Pilate and the crowd
Crucify him! Kill him!
Pilate scourges Jesus
Pilate tries to release Jesus
Crucify him!
Pilate washes his hands of it
Pilate sentences Jesus to death
Pilate releases Barabbas
Jesus is flogged and taken away to be crucified
Jesus is tortured
Simon of Cyrene carries Jesus’ cross

The arrest of Jesus
John 18:2-3
Judas, the betrayer, knew this place, for Jesus had gone there many times with his disciples.
The chief priests and the Pharisees had given Judas a squad of soldiers and police to accompany him. Now with blazing torches, lanterns, and weapons they arrived at the olive grove.
Matthew 26:47
At that very moment while Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived with a great crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent by the Jewish leaders.
Mark 14:43
And immediately, while Jesus was still speaking, Judas (one of his disciples) arrived with a mob equipped with swords and clubs, sent out by the chief priests and other Jewish leaders.
Luke 22:47
But even as Jesus said this, a mob approached, led by Judas, one of his twelve disciples. Judas walked over to Jesus and kissed him on the cheek in friendly greeting.
John 18:4-8
Jesus fully realized all that was going to happen to him. Stepping forward to meet them he asked, “Whom are you looking for?”
“Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied.
“I am he,” Jesus said. And as he said it, they all fell backwards to the ground.
Once more he asked them, “Whom are you searching for?” And again they replied, “Jesus of Nazareth.”
“I told you I am he,” Jesus said; “and since I am the one you are after, let these others go.” He did this to carry out the prophecy he had just made, “I have not lost a single one of those you gave me…”
Matthew 26:48
Judas had told them to arrest the man he greeted, for that would be the one they were after.
Mark 14:44
Judas had told them, “You will know which one to arrest when I go over and greet him. Then you can take him easily.”
Matthew 26:49
So now Judas came straight to Jesus and said, “Hello, Master!” and embraced him in friendly fashion.
Mark 14:45
So as soon as they arrived Judas walked up to Jesus. “Master!” he exclaimed, and embraced him with a great show of friendliness.
Luke 22:48
But Jesus said, “Judas, how can you do this – betray the Messiah with a kiss?”
Matthew 26:50
Jesus said, “My friend, go ahead and do what you have come for.”
Then the others grabbed him.
Mark 14:46
Then the mob arrested Jesus and held him fast.
Luke 22:49
When the other disciples saw what was about to happen, they exclaimed, “Master, shall we fight? We brought along the swords!”

An ear slashed off
Matthew 26:51
One of the men with Jesus pulled a sword and slashed off the ear of the High Priest’s servant.
Mark 14:47
But someone pulled a sword and slashed at the High Priest’s servant, cutting off his ear.
Luke 22:50
And one of them slashed at the High Priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear.
John 18:10
Then Simon Peter drew a sword and slashed off the right ear of Malchus, the High Priest’s servant.

Fulfilling the Scriptures

Matthew 26:52-54
“Put away your sword,” Jesus told him. “Those using swords will get killed. Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly? But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what is happening now?”
Luke 22:51
But Jesus said, “Don’t resist any more.”
John 18:11
But Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword away. Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”
Luke 22:51
And he touched the place where the man’s ear had been and restored it.

Jesus addresses the leaders
Matthew 26:55
Then Jesus spoke to the crowd.
Luke 22:52
Then Jesus addressed the chief priests and captains of the Temple guards and the religious leaders who headed the mob.
Matthew 26:55
“Am I some dangerous criminal,” Jesus asked, “that you had to arm yourselves with swords and clubs before you could arrest me?”
Mark 14:48
Jesus asked them, “Am I some dangerous robber, that you come like this, armed to the teeth to capture me?”
Luke 22:52
“Am I a robber,” Jesus asked, “that you have come armed with swords and clubs to get me?”
Matthew 26:55
Jesus said, “I was with you teaching daily in the Temple and you didn’t stop me then.”
Mark 14:49
Jesus asked, “Why didn’t you arrest me in the Temple? I was teaching there every day.”
Luke 22:53
Jesus asked, “Why didn’t you arrest me in the Temple? I was there every day! But this is your moment – the time when Satan’s power reigns supreme.”
Matthew 26:56
Jesus said, “But this is all happening to fulfill the words of the prophets as recorded in the Scriptures.”
Mark 14:49
Jesus said, “But these things are happening to fulfill the prophecies about me.”

The arrest of Jesus
Luke 22:54
So they seized Jesus.
John 18:12
So the Jewish police with the soldiers and their lieutenant arrested Jesus and tied him.
Matthew 26:56
At that point, all the disciples deserted him and fled.
Mark 14:50-52
Meanwhile, all his disciples had fled.
There was, however, a young man following along behind, clothed only in a linen nightshirt. When the mob tried to grab him, he escaped, though his clothes were torn off in the process, so that he ran away completely naked.

To the High Priest’s home
Matthew 26:57
Then the mob led him to the home of Caiaphas the High Priest.
Mark 14:53
Jesus was led to the High Priest’s home.
Luke 22:54
So they seized Jesus and led him to the High Priest’s home.
John 18:13-14
First they took him to Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the High Priest that year. Caiaphas was the one who told the other Jewish leaders, “Better that one should die for all.”
Matthew 26:57
(The home) where all the Jewish leaders were gathering.
Mark 14:53
(The home) where all of the chief priests and other Jewish leaders soon gathered.

Peter follows at a distance
Matthew 26:58
Meanwhile, Peter was following far to the rear, and came to the courtyard of the High Priest’s house and went in and sat with the soldiers, and waited to see what was going to be done to Jesus.
Mark 14:54
Peter followed far behind and then slipped inside the gates of the High Priest’s residence and crouched beside a fire among the servants.
Luke 22:54-55
Peter followed at a distance. The soldiers lit a fire in the courtyard and sat around it for warmth, and Peter joined them there.
John 18:15-18
Simon Peter followed along behind, as did another of the disciples who was acquainted with the High Priest. So that other disciple was permitted into the courtyard along with Jesus while Peter stood outside the gate. Then the other disciple spoke to the girl watching at the gate, and she let Peter in. The girl asked Peter, “Aren’t you one of Jesus’ disciples?” “No,” he said, “I am not.”
The police and the household servants were standing around a fire they had made, for it was cold. And Peter stood there with them, warming himself.

Jesus before the High Priest
John 18:19-23
Inside, the High Priest began asking Jesus about his followers and what he had been teaching them.
Jesus replied, “What I teach is widely known, for I have preached regularly in the synagogue and Temple; I have been heard by all the Jewish leaders and teach nothing in private that I have not said in public. Why are you asking me this question? Ask those who heard me. You have some of them here. They know what I said.”
One of the soldiers standing there struck Jesus with his fist. “Is that the way to answer the High Priest? he demanded.
“If I lied, prove it,” Jesus replied. “Should you hit a man for telling the truth?”
John18:24
Then Annas sent Jesus, bound, to Caiaphas the High Priest.
Matthew 26:59-61
The chief priests and, in fact, the entire Jewish Supreme Court assembled there and looked for witnesses who would lie about Jesus, in order to build a case against him that would result in a death sentence. But even though they found many who agreed to be false witnesses, these always contradicted each other.
Finally two men were found who declared, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the Temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”
Mark 14:55-59
Inside, the chief priests and the whole Jewish Supreme Court were trying to find something against Jesus that would be sufficient to condemn him to death. But their efforts were in vain (useless). Many false witnesses volunteered evidence, but they contradicted each other.
Finally some men stood up to lie about him and said, “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days I will build another, made without human hands!’” But even then they didn’t get their stories straight!

Jesus - the Messiah, the Son of God
Matthew 26:62-64
Then the High Priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Well, what about it? Did you say that, or didn’t you?” but Jesus remained silent.
Then the High Priest said to him, “I demand in the name of the living God that you tell us whether you claim to be the Messiah, the Son of God.”
“Yes,” Jesus said, “I am. And in the future you will see me, the Son of Mankind, sitting at the right hand of God and returning on the clouds of heaven.”
Mark 14:60-62
Then the High Priest stood up before the court and asked Jesus, “Do you refuse to answer this charge? What do you have to say for yourself?”
To this Jesus made no reply.
Then the High Priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of God?”
Jesus said, “I am, and you will see me sitting at the right hand of God, and returning to earth in the clouds of heaven.”

The sentence of death
Matthew 26:65-66
Then the High Priest tore at his own clothing, shouting, “Blasphemy! What need have we for other witnesses? You have all heard him say it! What is your verdict?”
They shouted, “Death! – Death! –Death!”
Mark 14:63-64
Then the High Priest tore at his clothes and said, “What more do we need? Why wait for witnesses? You have heard his blasphemy. What is your verdict?” The vote for the death sentence was unanimous.

Jesus is tortured
Matthew 26:67
Then they spat in his face and struck him and some slapped him, saying, “Prophesy to us, you Messiah! Who struck you that time?”
Mark 14:65
Then some of them began to spit at him, and they blindfolded him and began to hammer his face with their fists.
“Who hit you that time, you prophet?” they jeered. Even the guards were using their fists on him as they led him away.
Luke 22:63-65
Now the guards in charge of Jesus began mocking him. They blindfolded him and hit him with their fists and asked, “Who hit you that time prophet?” And they threw all sorts of other insults at him.

Peter denies Jesus
Matthew 26:69-70
Meanwhile, as Peter was sitting in the courtyard a girl came over and said to him, “You were with Jesus, for both of you are from Galilee”
But Peter denied it loudly, “I don’t even know what you are talking about,” he angrily declared.
Mark 14:66-68
Meanwhile Peter was below in the courtyard. One of the maids who worked for the High Priest noticed Peter warming himself at the fire.
She looked at him closely and then announced, “You were with Jesus the Nazarene.”
Peter denied it. “I don’t know what you are talking about!” he said, and walked over to the edge of the courtyard.
Just, then, a rooster crowed.
Luke 22:56-57
A servant girl noticed Peter in the firelight and began staring at him. Finally she spoke: “This man was with Jesus!”
Peter denied it. “Woman,” he said, “I don’t even know the man!”
Matthew 26:71-72
Later, out by the gate, another girl noticed Peter and said to those standing around, “This man was with Jesus – from Nazareth.”
Again Peter denied it, this time with an oath. “I don’t even know the man,” he said.
Mark 14:69-70
The maid saw Peter standing there and began telling the others, “There he is! There’s that disciple of Jesus!” Peter denied it again.
Luke 22:58
After a while someone else looked at Peter and said, “You must be one of them!” “No, sir, I am not,” Peter replied.
Matthew 26:73
But after a while the men who had been standing there came over to him and said, “We know you are one of his disciples, for we can tell by your Galilean accent.”
Mark 14:70
A little later others standing around the fire began saying to Peter, “You are one of them, for you are from Galilee.”
Luke 22:59
About an hour later someone else flatly stated, “I know this fellow is one of Jesus’ disciples, for both are from Galilee.”
John 18:25
Meanwhile, as Simon Peter was standing by the fire, he was asked again, “Aren’t you one of his disciples?” “Of course not,” he replied.
Luke 22:60
But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you are talking about.”
John 18:26-27
But one of the household slaves of the High Priest – a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off – asked, “Didn’t I see you out there in the olive grove with Jesus?” Again Peter denied it. And immediately a rooster crowed.
Matthew 26:74
Peter began to curse and swear. “I don’t even know the man,” he said.
Mark 14:71
Peter began to curse and swear, “I don’t know this fellow you are talking about,” he said.
Matthew 26:74-7

And immediately the cock crowed. Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said, “Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.” And Peter went away crying bitterly.
Mark 14:72
And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. Suddenly Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.
Luke 22:60-62
And as Peter said the words, a rooster crowed.
At that moment Jesus turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered what he had said – “Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny me three times.” And Peter walked out of the courtyard weeping bitterly.

Jesus before the Supreme Court
Matthew 27:1
When it was morning, the chief priests and Jewish leaders met again to discuss how to induce the Roman authorities to sentence Jesus to death.
Mark 15:1
Early in the morning the chief priests, elders and teachers of religion – the entire Supreme Court – met to discuss the next step.
Luke 22:66-71
Early the next morning at daybreak the Jewish Supreme Court assembled, including the chief priests and all the top religious authorities of the nation. Jesus was led before this council, and instructed to state whether or not he claimed to be the Messiah.
Jesus replied, “If I tell you, you won’t believe me or let me present my case. But the time is soon coming when, I the Man of Glory, shall be enthroned beside Almighty God.”
They all shouted, “Then you claim you are the Son of God?”
And Jesus replied, “Yes, I am.”
“What need do we have for other witnesses?” they shouted, “for we ourselves have heard him say it.”

Judas changes his mind
Matthew 27:3-10
About that time Judas, who betrayed Jesus, when he saw that Jesus had been condemned to die, changed his mind and deeply regretted what he had done, and brought back the money to the chief priests and other Jewish leaders.
“I have sinned,” he declared, “for I have betrayed an innocent man.”
“That’s your problem,” they retorted.
Then Judas threw the money on to the floor of the Temple and went out and hanged himself.
The chief priests picked the money up. “We can’t put it in the collection,” they said, “since it’s against our laws to accept money paid for murder.”
They talked it over and finally decided to buy a certain field where the clay was used by potters, and to make it into a cemetery for foreigners who died in Jerusalem. That is why the cemetery is still called “The Field of Blood.” This fulfilled the prophecy of Jeremiah which says, “They took thirty pieces of silver – the price at which he was valued by the people of Israel – and purchased a field from the potters as the Lord directed me.”

Jesus is sent to Pilate
Matthew 27:2
Then they sent him in chains to Pilate, the Roman governor.
Mark 15:1
They decided to send Jesus under armed guard to Pilate, the Roman governor.
Luke 23:1
Then the entire Council took Jesus over to Pilate, the governor.
John 18:28-32
Jesus’ trial before Caiaphas ended in the early hours of the morning. Next he was taken to the palace of the Roman governor. His accusers wouldn’t go in themselves for that would “defile” them, they said, and they wouldn’t be allowed to eat the Passover lamb. So Pilate, the governor, went out to them and asked, “What is your charge against this man? What are you accusing him of doing?”
“We wouldn’t have arrested him if he weren’t a criminal,” they retorted.
“Then take him away and judge him yourselves by your own laws,” Pilate told them.
“But we want him crucified,” they said, “and your approval is required.”
This fulfilled Jesus’ prediction concerning the method his execution.
Luke 23:2
They began at once accusing him: “This fellow has been leading our people to ruin by telling them not to pay their taxes to the Roman government and by claiming he is our Messiah – a King.”

Jesus before Pilate
Matthew 27:11
Now Jesus was standing before Pilate, the Roman governor. “Are you the Jews’ Messiah? The governor asked him.
Mark 15:2
Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the King of the Jews?”
Luke 23:3
So Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you their Messiah – their King?”
John 18:33-37
Then Pilate went back into the palace and called for Jesus to be brought to him. “Are you the King of the Jews?” he asked him.
“‘King’ as you use the word or as the Jews use it?” Jesus asked.
“Am I a Jew?” Pilate retorted. “Your own people and their chief priests brought you here. Why? What have you done?”
Then Jesus answered, “I am not an earthly king. If I were, my followers would have fought when I was arrested by the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world.”
Pilate replied, “But you are a king then?”
Matthew 27:11
“Yes,” Jesus replied.
Mark 15:2
“Yes,” Jesus replied, “it is as you say.”
Luke 23:3
“Yes,” Jesus replied, “it is as you say.”
John 18:37-38
“Yes,” Jesus said. “I was born for that purpose. And I came to bring truth to the world. All who love the truth are my followers.”
“What is truth?” Pilate exclaimed. Then he went out again to the people and told them, “He is not guilty of any crime.”
Luke 23:4
Then Pilate turned to the chief priests and to the mob and said, “So? That isn’t a crime!”
Mark 15:3-4
Then the chief priests accused Jesus of many crimes.
Matthew 27:12-14
But when the chief priests and other Jewish leaders made their many accusations against him, Jesus remained silent.
“Don’t you hear what they are saying?” Pilate demanded.
But Jesus said nothing, much to the governor’s surprise.
Mark 15:4-5
Pilate asked Jesus, “Why don’t you say something? What about all these charges against you?”
But Jesus said no more, much to Pilate’s amazement.
Luke 23:5-6
Then they became desperate. “But he is causing riots against the government everywhere he goes, all over Judea, from Galilee to Jerusalem.”
“Is he then a Galilean?” Pilate asked.

Pilate sends Jesus to King Herod
Luke 23:7-11
When they told him that Jesus was a Galilean, Pilate sent him to King Herod, for Galilee was under Herod’s jurisdiction; and Herod happened to be in Jerusalem at the time. Herod was delighted at the opportunity to see Jesus, for he had heard a lot about him and had been hoping to see him perform a miracle.
King Herod asked Jesus question after question, but there was no reply. Meanwhile, the chief priests and the other religious leaders stood there shouting their accusations.
Now Herod and his soldiers began mocking and ridiculing Jesus.

Herod sends Jesus back to Pilate
Luke 23:11-12
Putting a kingly robe on Jesus, they sent him back to Pilate. That day Herod and Pilate – enemies before – became fast friends.

Pilate’s verdict
Luke 23:13-15
Then Pilate called together the chief priests and other Jewish leaders, along with the people, and announced his verdict:
“You brought this man to me, accusing him of leading a revolt against the Roman government. I have examined him thoroughly on this point and find him innocent. Herod came to the same conclusion and sent him back to us – nothing this man has done calls for the death penalty.

The Governor’s custom
Matthew 27:15
Now the governor’s custom was to release one Jewish prisoner each year during the Passover celebration – anyone they wanted.
Mark 15:6
Now, it was Pilate’s custom to release one Jewish prisoner each year at Passover time – any prisoner the people requested.
John 18:39
Pilate said, “But you have a custom of asking me to release someone from prison each year at Passover.”
Luke 23:16
Pilate said, “I will therefore have him scourged (whipped) with leaded thongs (straps) and release him.

Release Barabbas or Jesus
Matthew 27:16-18
This year there was a particularly notorious criminal in jail named Barabbas, and as the crowds gathered before Pilate’s house that morning he asked them, “Which shall I release to you –Barabbas, or Jesus, your Messiah?” For he knew very well that the Jewish leaders had arrested Jesus out of envy because of his popularity with the people.
Mark15:7-10
One of the prisoners at that time was Barabbas, convicted along with others for murder during an insurrection.
Now a mob began to crowd in towards Pilate, asking him to release a prisoner as usual.
“How about giving you the ‘King of Jews’?” Pilate asked. “Is he the one you want released?” (For he realized by now that this was a frame-up, backed by the chief priests because they envied Jesus’ popularity.
John 18:39
So if you want me to, I’ll release the ‘King of the Jews’.”

Pilate’s wife’s dream
Matthew 27:19-20
Just then, as Pilate was presiding over the court, Pilate’s wife sent him this message: “Leave that good man alone; for I had a terrible nightmare concerning him last night.”
Meanwhile the chief priests and Jewish officials persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas’ release, and for Jesus’ death.
Mark 15:11
But at this point the chief priests whipped up the mob to demand the release of Barabbas instead of Jesus.

Pilate and the crowd
Matthew 27:21
So when the governor asked again, “Which of these two shall I release to you?” the crowd shouted back their reply: Barabbas!”

Crucify him! Kill him!
Luke 23:17-19
But now a mighty roar rose from the crowd as with one voice they shouted, “Kill him, and release Barabbas to us!” (Barabbas was in prison for starting an insurrection in Jerusalem against the government, and for murder.)
John 18:40
But they screamed back, “No! Not this man, but Barabbas!” Barabbas was a robber.
Matthew 27:22-23
“Then what shall I do with Jesus your Messiah?” Pilate asked.
They shouted, “Crucify him!”
“Why?” Pilate demanded. “What has he done wrong?”
Mark 15:12-14
“But if I release Barabbas,” Pilate asked them, “what shall I do with this man you call your king?”
They shouted back, “Crucify him!”
“But why?” Pilate demanded, “What has he done wrong?”
Luke 23:20-22
Pilate argued with them, for he wanted to release Jesus. But they shouted, “Crucify Him! Crucify him!”
Once more for the third time, Pilate demanded, “Why? What crime has he committed? I have found no reason to sentence him to death. I will therefore scourge (whip or lash) him and let him go.”

Pilate scourges Jesus
John 19:1-3
Then Pilate laid open Jesus’ back with a leaded whip, and the soldiers made a crown of thorns and placed it on his head and robed him in royal purple. “Hail, ‘King of the Jews!’” they mocked (ridiculed) and struck him with their fists.

John 19:4-8
Pilate went outside again and said to the Jews, “I am going to bring him out to you now, but understand clearly that I find him not guilty.”
Then Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said, “Behold the man!”
At the sight of Jesus the chief priests and Jewish officials began yelling, “Crucify! Crucify!”
“You crucify him,” Pilate said. “I find him not guilty.”
They replied, “By our laws he ought to die because he called himself the Son of God.”
When Pilate heard this, he was more frightened than ever.
John 19:9-11
Pilate took Jesus back into the palace again and asked him, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave no answer.
“You won’t talk to me?” Pilate demanded. “Don’t you realize that I have the power to release you or to crucify you?”
Then Jesus said, “You would have no power at all over me unless it were given to you from above. So those who brought me to you have the greater sin (the greater evil, the greater transgression against God’s laws).

Pilate tries to release Jesus
John 19:12
Then Pilate tried to release him, but the Jewish leaders told him, “If you release this man, you are no friend of Caesar’s. Anyone who declares himself a king is a rebel against Caesar.”
John 19:13-14
At these words Pilate brought Jesus out to them again and sat down at the judgment bench on the stone-paved platform. It was now about noon of the day before Passover.
And Pilate said to the Jews, “Here is your king!”

Crucify him!
Matthew 27:23
But they kept shouting, “Crucify! Crucify!”
Mark 15:14
They only roared the louder, “Crucify him!”
Luke 23:23
But they shouted louder and louder for Jesus death.
John 19:15
“Away with him,” they yelled, “away with him – crucify him!”
“What? Crucify your king?” Pilate asked.
“We have no king but Caesar,” the chief priests shouted back.

Pilate washes his hands of it
Matthew 27:24-25

When Pilate saw that he wasn’t getting anywhere, and that a riot was developing, he sent for a bowl of water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this good man. The responsibility is yours!”
And the mob yelled back, “His blood be on us and on our children!”
Luke 23:23
And their voices prevailed.

Pilate sentences Jesus to death
Luke 23:24
So Pilate sentenced Jesus to die as they demanded.

Pilate releases Barabbas
Matthew 27:26
Then Pilate released Barabbas to them.
Mark 15:15
Then Pilate, afraid of a riot and anxious to please the people, released Barabbas to them.
Luke 23:25
Pilate released Barabbas, the man in prison for insurrection and murder, at their request.

Jesus is flogged and taken away to be crucified
Matthew 27:26
And after Pilate had whipped Jesus, he gave him to the Roman soldiers to take away and crucify.
Mark 15:15
And Pilate ordered Jesus to be flogged with a leaded whip, and handed him over to be crucified.
Luke 23:25
But Pilate delivered Jesus over to them to do with as they would.
John 19:16
Then Pilate gave Jesus to them to be crucified.

Jesus is tortured
Matthew 27:27-31
But first they took Jesus into the armory and called out the entire contingent. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and made a crown from long thorns and put it on his head, and placed a stick in his right hand as a scepter and knelt before him in mockery (in ridicule). “Hail, King of the Jews,” they yelled. And they spat on him and grabbed the stick and beat him on the head with it.
After the mockery, they took off the robe and put his own garment on him again, and took him out to crucify him.
Mark 15:16-20

Then the Roman soldiers took Jesus into the barracks of the palace, called out the entire palace guard, dressed him in a purple robe, and made a crown of long, sharp thorns and put it on his head. Then they saluted, yelling, “Long live the King of the Jews!” And they beat him on the head with a cane, and spat on him and went down on their knees to “worship” him.
When they finally tired of their sport, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him again, and led him away to be crucified.
John 19:17
So they had Jesus at last, and he was taken out of the city, carrying his cross.

Simon of Cyrene carries Jesus’ cross
Matthew 27:32
As they were on the way to the execution grounds they came across a man from Cyrene, in Africa – Simon was his name – and forced him to carry Jesus’ cross.
Mark 15:21
Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country just then, was pressed into service to carry Jesus’ cross. (Simon is the father of Alexander and Rufus,)
Luke 23:26
As the crowd led Jesus away to his death, Simon of Cyrene, who was just coming into Jerusalem from the country, was forced to follow, carrying Jesus’ cross.
Luke 23:27-33
Great crowds trailed along behind, and many grief-stricken women.
But Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem don’t weep for me, but for yourselves and for your children. For the days are coming when the women who have no children will be counted fortunate indeed. Mankind will beg the mountains to fall on them and crush them, and the hills to bury them. For if such things as this are done to me, the Living Tree, what will they do to you?”
Two others, criminals, were led out to be executed with him.

JERUSALEM

Death
To Golgotha, Skull Hill
Jesus is crucified with two others
Soldiers gamble for Jesus’ clothing
Nine o’clock in the morning
The people passing by
The leaders mock Jesus
The robbers join in
Jesus and Mary and John
Darkness from noon until three o’clock
Jesus dies
The sun, the veil and other events
The soldiers’ response
Jesus’ friends
Not one of his bones shall be broken
Joseph from Arimathea asks Pilate for Jesus’ body
Joseph takes Jesus’ body down
Joseph, Nicodemus and the tomb
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary watch
Temple police guard the tomb

To Golgotha, Skull Hill
Matthew 27:33-34
Then they went out to an area known as Golgotha, that is Skull Hill, where the soldiers gave him drugged wine to drink; but when he had tasted it, he refused.
Mark 15:22-23
And they brought Jesus to a place called Golgotha. (Golgotha means skull.) Wine drugged with bitter herbs was offered to him there, but he refused it.
Luke 23:33
…at a place called, “The Skull”.
John 19:17
…to a place known as “The Skull,” in Hebrew, “Golgotha.”

Jesus is crucified with two others
Mark 15:24
And then they crucified Jesus –
Luke 23:33-34
There all three were crucified – Jesus on the centre cross, and the two criminals on either side.
“Father, forgive these people,” Jesus said, “for they don’t know what they are doing.”
John 19:18-22
There they crucified Jesus and two others with him, one on either side with Jesus between them. And Pilate posted a sign over him reading, “JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.” The place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and the signboard was written in Hebrew, Latin and Greek, so that many people read it.
Then the chief priests said to Pilate, “Change it from ‘The King of the Jews’ to ‘He said, I am King of the Jews.’”
Pilate replied, “What I have written, I have written. It stays exactly as it is.”

Soldiers gamble for Jesus’ clothing
Matthew 27:35
After the crucifixion, the soldiers threw dice to divide up his clothes among themselves.
Mark 15:24
(The soldiers) threw dice for his clothes.
Luke 23:34
And the soldiers gambled for his clothing, throwing dice for each piece.
John 19:23-25
When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they put his garments into four piles, one for each of them. But they said, “Let’s not tear up his robe,” for it was seamless. “Let’s throw dice to see who gets it.” This fulfilled the Scripture that says, “They divided my clothes among them, and cast lots for my robe.” So that is what they did.

Nine o’clock in the morning
Mark 15:25
It was about nine o’clock in the morning when the crucifixion took place.
Matthew 27:36
Then they sat around and watched him as he hung there.
Luke 23:35-38
The crowd watched, and the Jewish leaders laughed and scoffed. “He was so good at helping others,” they said, “let’s see him save himself, if he is really
God’s Chosen One, the Messiah.”
The soldiers mocked him, too, by offering him a drink – of sour wine. And they called to him, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!”
A signboard was nailed to the cross above him with these words: “THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS”
Matthew 27:37
And they put a sign above his head, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.”
Mark 15:26
A signboard was fastened to the cross above his head, announcing his crime. It read, “The King of the Jews.”
Matthew 27:38
Two robbers were also crucified there that morning, one on either side of him.
Mark 15:27-28
Two robbers were also crucified that morning, their crosses on either side of his. And so the Scripture was fulfilled that said, “He was counted among evil men.”

The people passing by
Matthew 27:39-40
And the people passing by hurled abuse, shaking their heads at him and saying, “So! You can destroy the Temple and build it again in three days, can you? Well, then, come on down from the cross if you are the Son of God!”
Mark 9:29-30
The people jeered at him as they walked by, and wagged their heads in mockery.
“Ha! Look at you now!” they yelled at him. “So, you can destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days! If you’re so wonderful, save yourself and come down from the cross.”

The leaders mock Jesus
Matthew 27:41-43
And the chief priests and Jewish leaders also mocked him. “He saved others,” they scoffed, “but he can’t save himself! So you are the King of Israel, are you? Come down from the cross and we’ll believe you! He trusted God – let God show his approval by delivering him. Didn’t he say, “I am God’s Son?”
Mark 15:31-32
The chief priests and religious leaders were also standing around joking about Jesus.
“He’s quite clever at ‘saving’ others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself!” “Hey there, Messiah!” they shouted at him. “You ‘King of Israel’! Come on down from the cross and we’ll believe you!”

The robbers join in
Matthew 27:44
And the robbers also threw the same in his teeth.
Mark 15:32
And even the two robbers dying with him cursed him.
Luke 23:39-43
One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself – and us, too, while you’re at it!”
But the other criminal protested. “Don’t you even fear God when you are dying? We deserve to die for our evil deeds, but this man hasn’t done one thing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”
And Jesus replied, “Today you will be with me in Paradise. This is a solemn promise.”

Jesus and Mary and John
John 19:25-27
Standing near the cross were Jesus’ mother, Mary, his aunt, the wife of Cleopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside me (John), his close friend, Jesus said to her, “He is your son.”
And to me (John) Jesus said, “She is your mother!” And from then on I (John) took her into my home.

Darkness from noon until three o’clock
Matthew 27:45
That afternoon, the whole earth was covered with darkness for three hours, from noon until three o’clock.
Mark 15:33
About noon, darkness fell across the entire land, lasting until three o’clock that afternoon.
Luke 23:44
By now it was noon, and darkness fell across the whole land for three hours, until three o’clock.
Matthew 27:46-47
At about three o’clock, Jesus shouted, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani,” which means, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?”
Some of the bystanders misunderstood and thought he was calling for Elijah.
Mark 15:34-35
Then Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” (My God, my God, why have you deserted me?”)
Some of the people standing there thought he was calling for the prophet Elijah.
Matthew 27:48-49
One of them ran and filled a sponge with sour wine and put it on a stick and held it up to him to drink. But the rest said, “Leave him alone. Let’s see whether Elijah will come and save him.”
Mark 15:36
So one man ran and got a sponge and filled it with sour wine and held it up to him on a stick. “Let’s see if Elijah will come and take him down!” he said.
John 19:28-29
Jesus knew that everything was now finished, and to fulfill the Scriptures said, “I’m thirsty.” A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so a sponge was soaked in it and put on a hyssop branch and held up to his lips.

Jesus dies
Matthew 27:50
Then Jesus shouted out again, dismissed his spirit, and died.
Mark 15:37
Then Jesus uttered another loud cry, and dismissed his spirit.
Luke 23:46
The Jesus shouted, “Father I commit my spirit to you,” and with those words he died.
John 19:30
When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished,” and bowed his head and dismissed his spirit.

The sun, the veil and other events
Luke 23:45
The light from the sun was gone – and suddenly the thick veil hanging in the Temple split apart.
Mark 15:38
And the curtain in the Temple was split apart from top to bottom.
Matthew 27:51-53
And look – the curtain separating the Holiest Place in the Temple was split apart from top to bottom; and the earth shook, and rocks broke, and tombs opened, and many godly men and women who had died came back to life again. After Jesus’ resurrection, they left the cemetery and went into Jerusalem, and appeared to many people there.

The soldiers’ response
Matthew 27:54
The soldiers at the crucifixion and their sergeant were terribly frightened by the earthquake and all that happened. They exclaimed, “Surely this was God’s Son.”
Mark 15:39
When the Roman officer standing beside Jesus’ cross saw how he dismissed his spirit, he exclaimed, “Truly, this was a son of God!”
Luke 23:47-49
When the captain of the Roman military unit handling the executions saw what had happened, he was struck with awe and said, “Surely this man was innocent.”
And when the crowd that came to see the crucifixion saw that Jesus was dead, they went home in deep sorrow. Meanwhile, Jesus’ friends, including the women who had followed him down from Galilee, stood in the distance watching.

Jesus’ friends
Matthew 27:55-56
And many women who had come down from Galilee with Jesus to care for him were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of James and John (the sons of Zebedee).
Mark 15:40-41
Some women were there watching from a distance – Mary Magdalene, Mary (the mother of James the Younger and of Joses), Salome, and others. They and many other Galilean women who were his followers had ministered to him when he was up in Galilee, and had come with him to Jerusalem.

Not one of his bones shall be broken
John 19:31-37
The Jewish leaders didn’t want the victims hanging there the next day, which was the Sabbath (and a very special Sabbath at that, for it was the Passover), so they asked Pilate to order the legs of the men to be broken to hasten death; then their bodies could be taken down.
So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the two men crucified with Jesus, but when they came to him, they saw that he was dead already, so they didn’t break his. However, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and blood and water flowed out. I saw all this myself and have given an accurate report so that you also can believe. The soldiers did this in fulfillment of the Scripture that says, “Not one of his bones shall be broken,” and “They shall look on him whom they pierced.”

Joseph from Arimathea asks Pilate for Jesus’ body
Mark 15:42-45
This all happened the day before the Sabbath. Late that afternoon Joseph from Arimathea, an honored member of the Jewish Supreme Court (who personally was eagerly expecting the arrival of God’s Kingdom), summoned up courage and went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body.
Pilate could not believe that Jesus was already dead so he called for the Roman officer in charge and asked him. The officer confirmed the fact, and Pilate told Joseph he could have the body.
Matthew 27:57-58
When evening came, a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph, one of Jesus’ followers, went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. And Pilate issued an order to release it to him.
Luke 23:50-52
Then a man named Joseph, a member of the Jewish Supreme Court, from the city of Arimathea in Judea, went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. He was a godly man who had been expecting the Messiah’s coming and had not agreed with the decision and actions of the other Jewish leaders.
John 19:38
Afterwards Joseph of Arimathea, who had been a secret disciple of Jesus for fear of the Jewish leaders, boldly asked Pilate for permission to take Jesus’ body down; and Pilate told him to go ahead.

Joseph takes Jesus’ body down
Matthew 27:59
Joseph (of Arimathea) took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth.
Mark 15:46
Joseph had bought a long sheet of linen cloth and, taking Jesus’ body down from the cross, wound it in the cloth.
Luke 23:53
So Joseph took down Jesus’ body and wrapped it in a long linen cloth.

Joseph, Nicodemus and the tomb
John 19:38-42
So Joseph (of Arimathea) came and took it (the body) away. Nicodemus, the man who had come to Jesus at night, came too, bringing a hundred pounds of embalming ointment made from myrrh and aloes (resins from plants used in perfume, incense and medicine). Together they wrapped Jesus’ body in a long linen cloth saturated with the spices, as it is the Jewish custom of burial. The place of crucifixion was near a grove of trees, where there was a new tomb, never used before. And so, because of the need for haste before the Sabbath, and because the tomb was close at hand, they laid him there.
Matthew 27:60
And placed it (the body) in his (Joseph’s) own new rock hewn tomb, and rolled a great stone across the entrance as he left.
Mark 15:46
And laid it (the body) in a rock-hewn tomb, and rolled a stone in front of the entrance.
Luke 23:53-54
And laid it (the body) in a new, unused tomb hewn into the rock [at the side of a hill].
This was done late on Friday afternoon, the day of preparation for the Sabbath.

Mary Magdalene and the other Mary watch
Matthew 27:61
Both Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting nearby watching.
Mark15:47
Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses were watching as Jesus was laid away.
Luke 23:55
As the body was taken away, the women from Galilee followed and saw it carried into the tomb.
Luke 23:56
Then they went home and prepared spices and ointments to embalm him; but by the time they were finished it was the Sabbath, so they rested all that day as required by the Jewish law.

Temple police guard the tomb
Matthew 27:62-66
The next day – at the close of the first day of the Passover ceremonies – the chief priests and Pharisees went to Pilate, and told him, “Sir, that liar once said, ‘After three days I will come back to life again.’ So we request an order from you sealing the tomb until the third day, to prevent his disciples from coming and stealing his body and then telling everyone he came back to life. If that happens we’ll be worse off than we were at first.”
“Use your own Temple police,” Pilate told them. “They can guard it safely enough.”
So they sealed the stone and posted guards to protect it from intrusion.

JERUSALEM

Return to Life
Saturday evening and Sunday morning
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary go to the tomb
An angel of the Lord appears
Mary Magdalene runs to Peter and John
Jesus comes back to life again
The disciples and Galilee
Peter and John to the tomb
Mary Magdalene at the tomb
Mary, two angels and Jesus
Mary Magdalene and the disciples
The Temple police bribed
Jesus appears to two men
Meetings of the disciples
Jesus appears to the disciples in Jerusalem
Jesus says touch me and make sure
Receiving the Holy Spirit
Thomas won’t believe
Thomas sees and believes
The evidence of Jesus’ miracles
Jesus appears beside the Lake of Galilee

Saturday evening and Sunday morning
Mark 16:1
The next evening, when the Sabbath ended, Mary Magdalene and Salome and Mary the mother of James went out and purchased embalming spices.
Mark 16:2
Early the following morning, just at sunrise, they carried them out to the tomb

Mary Magdalene and the other Mary go to the tomb
Matthew 28:1
Early the next morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to the tomb.
John 20:1
Early Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone was rolled aside from the entrance.

An angel of the Lord appears
Matthew 28:2-4
Suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and rolled aside the stone and sat on it. His face shone like lightning and his clothing was a brilliant white. The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and fell into a dead faint.
John 20:1
Early Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb.
Luke 24:1
But very early on Sunday morning they took the ointments to the tomb.
Mark 16:2-4

Early the following morning, just at sunrise, they carried them out to the tomb. On the way they were discussing how they could ever roll aside the huge stone from the entrance. But when they arrived they looked up and saw that the stone – a very heavy one – was already moved away and the entrance was open.
Luke 24:2
And found that the huge stone covering the entrance had been rolled aside.
John 20:1
And found that the stone was rolled aside from the entrance.

Mary Magdalene runs to Peter and John
John 20:2
Mary Magdalene ran and found Simon Peter and me (John) and said, “They have taken the Lord’s body out of the tomb, and I don’t know where they have put him!”

Jesus comes back to life again
Matthew 28:5-6
Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be frightened!” he said, “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. But he isn’t here! For he has come back to life again, just as he said he would. Come in and see where his body was lying…”
Luke 24:3-5
So they went in – But the body of the Lord Jesus was gone.
They stood there puzzled, trying to think what could have happened to it. Suddenly two men appeared before them, clothed in shining robes so bright their eyes were dazzled. The women were terrified and bowed low before them.
Mark 16:5
So they entered the tomb – and there on the right sat a young man clothed in white. The women were startled.
Mark 16:6
But the angel said, “Don’t be so surprised. Aren’t you looking for Jesus, the Nazarene who was crucified? He isn’t here – He has come back to life! Look, that is where his body was lying.
Luke 24:5-8
Then the men asked, “Why are you looking in a tomb for someone who is alive? He isn’t here. He has come back to life again! Don’t you remember what he told you back in Galilee – that the Messiah must be betrayed into the power of evil men and be crucified and that he would rise again the third day?”
Then they remembered.

The disciples and Galilee
Matthew 28:7
“And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and that he is going to Galilee to meet them there. That is my message to them.”
Mark 16:7
“Now go and give this message to his disciples, including Peter:
‘Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you before he died.’”
Matthew 28:8
The women ran from the tomb, badly frightened, but also filled with joy, and rushed to find the disciples to give them the angel’s message.
Mark 16:8
The women fled from the tomb, trembling and bewildered, too frightened to talk.
Luke 24:12
However, Peter ran to the tomb to look. Stooping, he peered in and saw the empty linen wrappings. Then he went back home again, wondering what had happened.

Peter and John to the tomb
John 20:3-10
We ran to the tomb to see; I (John) outran Peter and got there first, and stooped and looked in and saw the linen cloth lying there, but I didn’t go in. Then Simon Peter arrived and went on inside. He also noticed the cloth lying there, while the bandage that had covered Jesus’ head was rolled up in a bundle and was lying at the side. Then I (John) went in too, and saw, and believed [that he had risen] – for until then we hadn’t realized that the Scriptures said he would come to life again.
We went on home.

Mary Magdalene at the tomb
Mark 16:9
It was early on Sunday morning when Jesus came back to life, and the first person who saw him was Mary Magdalene – the woman from whom he had cast out seven demons.

Mary, two angels and Jesus
John 20:11-17
By that time Mary had returned to the tomb and was standing outside crying. And as she wept, she stooped and looked in, and saw two white robed angels sitting at the head and foot of the place where the body of Jesus had been lying.
“Why are you crying?” the angels asked her.
“Because they have taken away my Lord,” she replied, “and I don’t know where they have put him.”
She glanced over her shoulder and saw someone standing behind her. It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize him.
“Why are you crying?” he asked her. “Whom are you looking for?” (She thought he was the gardener.)
“Sir,” she said, “if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and get him.” “Mary!” Jesus said. She turned towards him. “Master!” she exclaimed.
“Don’t touch me,” he cautioned, “for I haven’t yet ascended to the Father. But go find my brothers and tell them that I ascend to my Father and your Father, my God and your God.”
Matthew 28:9-10
And as they (Mary Magdalene and the other Mary) were running, suddenly Jesus was there in front of them!
“Good morning,” he said. And they fell to the ground before him, holding his feet and worshipping him.
Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be frightened! Go tell my brothers to leave at once for Galilee, to meet me there.”

Mary Magdalene and the disciples
John 20:18
Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, “I have seen the Lord!” Then she gave them this message.
Mark 16:10-11
She (Mary Magdalene) found the disciples wet-eyed with grief and exclaimed that she had seen Jesus, and that He was alive! But they didn’t believe her.
Luke 24:9-11
And (the women) rushed back to Jerusalem to tell his eleven disciples – and everyone else – what had happened.
(The women who went to the tomb were Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and several others.) But the story sounded like a fairy tale to the men – they didn’t believe it.

The Temple Police bribed
Matthew 28:11-15
As the women were on the way into the city, some of the Temple police who had been guarding the tomb went to the chief priests and told them what had happened. A meeting of all the Jewish leaders was called, and it was decided to bribe the police to say they had all been asleep when Jesus’ disciples came during the night and stole his body.
“If the governor hears about it,” the Council promised, “we’ll stand up for you and everything will be all right.”
So the police accepted the bribe and said what they were told to. Their story spread widely among the Jews, and is still believed by them to this very day.

Jesus appears to two men
Mark 16:12
Later that day Jesus appeared to two men walking from Jerusalem into the country, but they did not recognize him at first because he had changed his appearance.
Luke 24:13-34
That same day, Sunday, two of Jesus’ followers were walking to the village of Emmaus, seven miles out of Jerusalem. As they walked along they were talking of Jesus’ death, when suddenly Jesus himself came along and joined them and began walking beside them. But God kept them from recognizing him.
“You seem to be in a deep discussion about something,” Jesus said. “What are you so concerned about?”
They stopped short, sadness written across their faces. And one of them, Cleopas, replied, “You must be the only person in all Jerusalem who hasn’t heard about the terrible things that happened there last week.”
“What things?” Jesus asked.
“The things that happened to Jesus, the man from Nazareth,” they said.” He was a Prophet who did incredible miracles and was a mighty Teacher, highly regarded by both God and man. But the chief priests and our religious leaders arrested him and handed him over to the Roman government to be condemned to death, and they crucified him. We had thought he was the glorious Messiah and that he had come to rescue Israel.
“And now, besides all this – which happened three days ago- some women from our group of his followers were at his tomb early this morning and came back with an amazing report that his body was missing, and that they had seen some angels there who told them Jesus is alive! Some of our men ran out to see, and, sure enough, Jesus’ body was gone, just as the women had said.”
Then Jesus said to them, “You are such foolish, foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. Wasn’t it clearly predicted by the prophets that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his time of glory?”
Then Jesus quoted them passage after passage from the writings of the prophets, beginning with the book of Genesis and going right on through the Scriptures, explaining what the passages meant and what they said about himself.
By this time they were nearing Emmaus and the end of their journey. Jesus would have gone on, but they begged him to stay the night with them, as it was getting late. So he went home with them. As they sat down to eat, Jesus asked God’s blessing on the food and then took small loaf of bread and broke it and was passing it over to them, when suddenly – it was as though their eyes were opened – they recognized him. And at that very moment he disappeared.
They began telling each other how their hearts had warmed as he talked with them and explained the Scriptures during the walk down the road. Within the hour they were on their way back to Jerusalem.

Meetings of the disciples
Mark 16:13
When they finally realized who he was, they rushed back to Jerusalem to tell the others, but no one believed them.
John 20:19
That evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors, in fear of the Jewish leaders.
Luke 24:33
(The two men from Emmaus rushed back to Jerusalem) where the eleven disciples and the other followers of Jesus greeted them with these words, “The Lord has really risen! He appeared to Peter!”

Jesus appears to the disciples in Jerusalem
Luke 24:35-37
Then the two from Emmaus told their story of how Jesus had appeared to them as they were walking along the road and how they had recognized him as he was breaking the bread. And as they were telling about it, Jesus himself was suddenly standing there among them, and greeting them. But the whole group was terribly frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost.
John 20:19
Suddenly Jesus was standing there among them.
Mark 16:14
Still later Jesus appeared to the eleven disciples as they were eating together. He rebuked them (reprimanded them sharply) for their unbelief – their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him alive from the dead.

Jesus says, touch me and make sure.
Luke 24:38-39
“Why are you frightened?” Jesus asked. “Why do you doubt that it is really I? Look at my hands! Look at my feet! You can see that it is I, myself. Touch me and make sure that I am not a ghost. For ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do!”
John 20:19
After greeting them, Jesus showed them his hands and side.
Luke 24:40-42
As Jesus spoke, he held out his hands for them to see [the marks of the nails], and showed them [the wounds in] his feet.
Still they stood there undecided, filled with joy and doubt.
Then Jesus asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?”
They gave him a piece of broiled (grilled) fish, (and part of a honeycomb) and he ate it as they watched.
John 20:20
And how wonderful was their joy (pleasure and happiness) as they saw their Lord!

Receiving the Holy Spirit
John 20:21-23
Jesus spoke to them again and said, “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” Then he breathed on them and told them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you refuse to forgive them, they are unforgiven.”

Thomas won’t believe
John 20:24-25
One of the disciples, Thomas, “The Twin” was not there at the time with the others. When they kept telling him, “We have seen the Lord,” he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands – and put my fingers into them – and place my hand into his side.”

Thomas sees and believes
John 20:26-29
Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them and greeting them.
Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger into my hands. Put your hand into my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!”
“My Lord and my God! Thomas said.
Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. But blessed are those who haven’t seen me and believe anyway.”

The evidence of Jesus’ miracles
John 20:30-31
Jesus’ disciples saw him do many other miracles besides the ones written in this book, but these are recorded so that you will believe that he is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that believing in him you will have Life.

Jesus appears beside the Lake of Galilee
John 21:1-25
Later Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Lake of Galilee. This is how it happened:
A group of us were there – Simon Peter, Thomas, “The Twin,” Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, my brother James and I (John) and two other disciples.
Simon Peter said, “I’m going fishing.”
“We’ll come too,” we all said. We did but caught nothing all night.
At dawn we saw a man standing on the beach but couldn’t see who he was.
He called, “Any fish, boys?”
“No,” we replied.
Then he said, “Throw out your net on the right hand side of the boat, and you’ll get plenty of them!”
So we did, and couldn’t draw in the net because of the weight of the fish, there were so many.
Then I (John) said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” At that, Simon Peter put on his tunic (for he was stripped to the waist) and jumped into the water [and swam ashore]. The rest of us stayed in the boat and pulled the loaded net to the beach, about three hundred feet away. When we got there, we saw that a fire was kindled and fish were frying over it, and there was bread.
“Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught,” Jesus said.
So Simon Peter went out and dragged the net ashore. By his count there were one hundred and fifty-three large fish; and yet the net hadn’t torn.
“Now come and have some breakfast!” Jesus said; and none of us dared ask him if he really was the Lord, for we were quite sure of it. Then Jesus went around serving us the bread and fish.
This was the third time Jesus had appeared to us since his return from the dead.
After breakfast Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these others?”
“Yes,” Peter replied. You know I am your friend.”
“Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him.
Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you really love me?”
“Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I am your friend.”
“The take care of my sheep,” Jesus said.
Once more Jesus asked Peter, “Simon, son of John, are you even my friend?” Peter was grieved at the way Jesus asked the question this third time. “Lord, you know my heart; you know I am,” he said.
Jesus said, “Then feed my little sheep. When you were young, you were able to do as you liked and go wherever you wanted to; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands and others will direct you and take you where you don’t want to go.” Jesus said this to let him know what kind of death he would die to glorify God. Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.”
Peter turned around and saw the disciple Jesus loved following, the one who leaned over at supper that time to ask Jesus, “Master, which of us will betray you?” Peter asked Jesus. “What about him, Lord? What sort of death will he die?”
Jesus replied, “If I want him to live until I return, what is that to you?” You follow me.”
So the rumor spread among the brotherhood that that disciple wouldn’t die. But that isn’t what Jesus said at all. He only said, “If I want him to live until I come, what is that to you?”
I (John) am that disciple! I saw these events and have recorded them here. And we all know that my account of these things is accurate. And I suppose that if all the other events in Jesus’ life were written, the whole world could hardly contain the books!

JERUSALEM

The Commission
Jesus appears to his disciples and gives them directions

Jesus appears to his disciples and gives them directions
Matthew 28:16-20
Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had said they would find him. There they met him and worshipped him – but some of them weren’t sure it was really Jesus.
Jesus told his disciples, “I have been given all authority (all legal power, based on God’s laws, and right to rule and control) in heaven and earth. Therefore go and make disciples in all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you; and be sure of this – that I am with you always, even to the end of the world.
Mark 16:15-18
And then Jesus told them, “You are to go into all the (entire) world and preach the Good News to everyone, everywhere. Those who believe and are baptized will be saved. But those who refuse to believe will be condemned.
And those who believe shall use my authority to cast out demons, and they shall speak new languages. They will even be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it will not hurt them, and they will be able to place their hands on the sick and heal them.
Luke 24:44-49
Then Jesus said, “When I was with you before, don’t you remember my telling you that everything written about me by Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must all come true?” Then he opened their minds to understand at last these many Scriptures. And he said, “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah must suffer and die and rise again from the dead on the third day; and that this message of salvation should be taken from Jerusalem to all the nations: There is forgiveness of sins for all who turn to me. You have seen these prophecies come true.
And now I will send the Holy Spirit upon you, just as my Father promised. Don’t begin telling others yet – stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.”

JERUSALEM

Return to Heaven
Jesus is taken up into heaven
During the forty days after Jesus’ crucifixion
The Holy Spirit
Jesus goes away to heaven
A prayer meeting in Jerusalem
Peter’s address and Matthias becomes an apostle

Jesus is taken up into heaven
Luke 24:50-53
Then Jesus led them out along the road to Bethany, and lifting his hands to heaven, he blessed them, and then began rising into the sky, and went on to heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem filled with mighty joy (pleasure and happiness) and were continually in the Temple, praising God.
Mark 16:19-20
When the Lord Jesus had finished talking with them, he was taken up into heaven and sat down at God’s right hand.
And the disciples went everywhere preaching, and the Lord was with them and confirmed what they said by the miracles that followed their messages.

During the forty days after Jesus’ crucifixion
Acts 1:1-3
Dear friend who loves God:
In my first letter I told you about Jesus’ life and teachings and how he returned to heaven after giving his chosen apostles further instructions from the Holy Spirit. During the forty days after his crucifixion he had appeared to the apostles from time to time in human form and proved to them in many ways that it was actually he himself they were seeing. And on these occasions he talked to them about the Kingdom of God.

The Holy Spirit
Acts 1:4-8
In one of these meetings Jesus told them not to leave Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit came upon them in fulfillment of the Father’s promise, a matter he had previously discussed with them.
“John baptized you with water,” Jesus reminded them, “but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit in just a few days.”
Another time when Jesus appeared to them, they asked him, “Lord, are you going to free Israel [from Rome] now and restore us as an independent nation?”
“The Father sets those dates,” he replied, “and they are not for you to know. But when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power to preach with great effect to the people in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth, about my death and resurrection.

Jesus goes away to heaven
Acts 1:9-11
It was not long afterwards that Jesus was lifted up and disappeared into a cloud, leaving them staring after him.
As they were straining their eyes for another glimpse, suddenly two white-robed men were standing there among them, and said, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing here staring at the sky? Jesus has gone away to heaven, and some day, just as he went, he will return!”

A prayer meeting in Jerusalem
Acts 1:12-15
They were at the Mount of Olives when this happened, so now they walked the half mile back to Jerusalem and held a prayer meeting in an upstairs room of the house where they were staying.
Here is the list of those who were present at the meeting:
Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James (son of Alphaeus), Simon (also called “The Zealot”), Judas (son of James), and the brothers of Jesus. Several women, including Jesus’ mother, were also there. This prayer meeting went on for several days. During this time, on a day when about one hundred and twenty people were present, Peter stood up and addressed them as follows:

Peter’s address and Matthias becomes an apostle
Acts 1:16-26
“Brothers, it was necessary for the Scriptures to come true concerning Judas, who betrayed Jesus by guiding the mob to him, for this was predicted long ago by the Holy Spirit, speaking through King David.
Judas was one of us, chosen to be an apostle just as we were. He bought a field with the money he received for his treachery and falling headlong there, he burst open, spilling out his bowels. The news of his death spread rapidly among all the people of Jerusalem, and they named the place, ‘The Field of Blood.’
King David’s prediction of this appears in the Book of Psalms, where he says, ‘Let his home become desolate with no one living in it.’ And again, ‘Let his work be given to someone else to do.’
So now we must choose someone else to take Judas’ place and to join us as witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection. Let us select someone who has been with us constantly from our first association with the Lord – from the time he was baptized by John (the Baptist) until the day he was taken from us into heaven.”
The assembly nominated two men:
Joseph Justus (also called Barsabbas) and Matthias. Then, they all prayed for the right man to be chosen. “O Lord,” they said, “you know every heart; show us which of these men you have chosen as an apostle to replace Judas the traitor, who has gone on to his proper place.”
Then they drew straws, and in this manner Matthias was chosen and became an apostle with the other eleven.

JERUSALEM

The Holy Spirit
The Day of Pentecost and the power of the Holy Spirit

The Day of Pentecost and the power of the Holy Spirit
Acts 2:1-11
Seven weeks had now gone by since Jesus’ death and resurrection, and the Day of Pentecost arrived. As the believers met together that day, suddenly there was a sound like the roaring of a mighty gale in the skies above them and it filled the house where they were meeting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on their heads, and everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in languages he didn’t know, for the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.
Many godly Jews were in Jerusalem that day for the religious celebrations, having arrived from many nations. And when they heard the roaring in the sky above the house, crowds came running to see what it was all about, and were stunned to hear their own languages being spoken by the disciples.
“How can this be?” they exclaimed. “For these men are all from Galilee, and yet we hear them speaking all the native languages of the lands where we were born!
Here we are – Parthians, Medes, Elamites, men from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Ausia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the Cyrene language areas of Libya, visitors from Rome – both Jews and Jewish converts – Cretans, and Arabians. And we all hear these men telling in our own languages about the mighty miracles of God!”

Jesus will test, try and judge the nations, the peoples of the world
Jesus does not fight or shout, does not raise his voice,
Does not crush the weak or quench the smallest hope
Jesus will end all conflict, fighting, struggle and strife
With his final victory and defeat of the enemy
Jesus’ Name shall be the hope, desire and expectation
Of the entire world, of all the peoples of the world
Matthew 12:17-21